The Unfinished Angel

An angel lives in a stone tower in the Swiss Alps, watching over the village of Zermatt. When American Zola Pomodoro and her father move to town to start a new school, the angel's peaceful existence is disrupted by this child who can see and speak to it. The angel and Zola discover homeless children living in an abandoned factory building near the village. Together they work to help these children while navigating cultural differences between the tight-knit Swiss community and the newly-arrived Americans. Through simple yet distinctive prose, this middle-grade novel explores themes of belonging, community responsibility, and what it means to be "finished" or "unfinished" in life. The story weaves together magical realism with grounded social issues in a way that remains accessible to young readers.

Readers often highlight the unique narrative voice of the angel protagonist, with its whimsical made-up words and unconventional grammar. Parents and teachers note the book's accessibility for grades 3-6. Readers appreciated: - Creative language and word play - Messages about compassion and helping others - Short length for reluctant readers - Effectiveness as a read-aloud book Common criticisms: - Plot feels unfocused and meandering - Character development seems limited - Some found the angel's voice confusing or frustrating - Several note it doesn't match the quality of other Creech books Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "The angel's voice takes getting used to but becomes endearing," notes one teacher reviewer. A parent writes, "My 9-year-old struggled with the made-up vocabulary." Multiple reviewers describe it as "gentle" but "forgettable" compared to Walk Two Moons or Ruby Holler.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo A toy rabbit's journey through multiple owners teaches messages about love and connection in ways that mirror the angel's discoveries about human nature.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech The story explores cultural misunderstandings and community connections through a young girl's cross-country journey with elements of magical realism.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende This multi-generational tale blends everyday life with spiritual elements in a European setting similar to the Swiss village in The Unfinished Angel.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo A story of unexpected friendships and community building unfolds as a girl brings together the eccentric residents of her small town.

One Mixed-Up Night by Catherine Newman Two children's nighttime adventure in a furniture store creates the same type of misunderstandings and revelations found in The Unfinished Angel's narrative.

🌟 Sharon Creech wrote this book while living in a medieval tower in Switzerland, similar to where the angel character in the story resides. 🌟 The unique language style used by the angel narrator, with its misused words and creative expressions, was inspired by the author's experiences learning Italian and living among multiple languages. 🌟 The character Zola was named after the author's granddaughter, and her vibrant personality was partially inspired by real-life children Creech met while teaching. 🌟 The book explores themes of belonging and community in the Swiss Alps, drawing from the region's tradition of taking in refugee children during times of war and hardship. 🌟 Sharon Creech became the first American author to win both the American Newbery Medal and the British Carnegie Medal for children's literature, though for different books than this one.